What the French Open means to Li Na

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Secret to beating tennis' big four

Early exits in two hard court tournaments in the build-up to the U.S. Open were not ideal preparation, but Lisicki came through her opening two matches against Vera Dushevina of Russia and Argentina's Paula Ormaechea in straight sets.

24th seed Makarova proved a tougher test and was always in the ascendancy in a match lasting a shade over an hour and a half.

She closed it out 6-4 7-5 after breaking Lisicki for the third time to move into the last 16 in fine style.

It was another grand slam disappointment for Lisicki, who has never reached the fourth round at this level other than at Wimbledon.

Earlier, China's Li Na revenged a 2012 defeat at the U.S. Open when she beat British teenager Laura Robson 6-2 7-5, while third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland also progressed to the fourth round, beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia.

Men's top seed Novak Djokovic was largely untroubled in beating Germany's Benjamin Becker 7-6 6-2 6-2 to move into the third round.

Djokovic saved two sets points as Becker served for the opener at 5-4 before forcing a tiebreaker.